Richard Stim

Attorney · University of San Francisco School of Law

Attorney Richard Stim specialized in small business, copyright, patents, and trademark issues at Nolo. He has authored many books, including Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business; Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference; and Profit From Your Idea. Stim regularly answers readers' intellectual property questions at his blog.

Articles By Richard Stim

What Is a Contract?
Contracts are legally binding agreements, and they pervade almost every aspect of our personal and business lives.
Breach of Contract: Material Breach
In contract law, a "material" breach of contract is a breach (a failure to perform the contract) that strikes so deeply at the heart of the contract that it renders the agreement "irreparably broken" and defeats the purpose of making the contract in the first place. The breach must go to the very root
Time Is of the Essence Clause in Contracts
Parties to a contract often include a statement that says "time is of the essence." What does this provision mean, and will a court always enforce a "time is of the essence" clause if something goes wrong under the contract? Read on to learn more. (For a look at other kinds of clauses that show up often
Can an NDA With a Foreign Company Prevent Trade Secret Theft?
Agreements don't prevent wrongdoing, they merely establish the rules in the event wrongdoing occurs.
Sample Confidentiality Agreement (NDA)
A confidentiality agreement (also called a nondisclosure agreement or NDA) is a legally binding contract in which a person or business promises to treat
Sample Amendment to Contract
This Sample Amendment to Contract can help you incorporate any changes to an existing agreement, quickly and painlessly.
How To Register Your Blog Name As a Trademark
Explanation for filing a federal trademark application for blog name.
Filing a Federal Trademark Application FAQ
Applying for a federal trademark has many complications. What are some of the basics of the process?
Getting a Patent on Your Own
To obtain a patent, you must ensure that your invention qualifies and then be able to describe it in your application.
Patent Searching Online
You have a great idea and want to make money from it. Getting a patent can help you do that. The first step in getting a patent for your invention (or determining if you even qualify for one) is finding out if someone else already has a patent for your idea. If your invention is already patented, then you are out of luck. The quickest and easiest way to find out is to do an online patent search.